Forgotten Reformers: Paul Craw

The Hussite movement is one of the most notable pre-Reformation attempts to reform the Catholic Church. But it's geographically limited -- indeed, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish Hussitry from Czech nationalism.

But there's one big exception: Paul Craw, a.k.a Pavel Kravar in Czech. He was the man who tried to spread Hussitry to Scotland.

Craw, a Taborite from Silesia, was sent to Scotland in 1431, during the reign of King James I. For reference, this was 16 years after the death of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance, and about 3 years before the Battle of Lipany ended the Hussite Wars in Bohemia.

Craw's mission in Scotland was probably related to the Council of Basel, which was in progress at the time. Craw's assignment was likely to make contact with Scottish Lollards -- followers of the earlier English reformer John Wycliffe -- and ally with them to create a united front at the council.

However, once in Scotland, Craw began preaching Hussitry to the people.

Paul Craw's preaching ran afoul of Henry Wardlaw, the Bishop of St. Andrews, and an important advisor to the king. Wardlaw was dedicated to ridding Scotland of Lollards, and Hussitry seemed an awful lot like Lollardry to him. With a monk named John Fogo servin as chief inquisitor, Craw was arrested and tried for heresy.

According to later Protestant historians, Paul Craw was condemned for the following deeds:

• denying transubstantiation
• opposing the confession of sins to priests
• opposing prayer to saints

Paul Craw was burned at the stake in the market square of St. Andrews. Before the burning, authorities put a brass ball in his mouth -- to prevent him from preaching his views during the execution.